4 People Have Died from Bongkrek Acid Poisoning After Eating at M’sian Restaurant in Taiwan

A Malaysian vegetarian restaurant chain in Taipei, Taiwan, is now under fire due to a food poisoning outbreak that has caused 4 people to die from organ failure.

Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Victor Wang shared that the food poisoning outbreak is mainly linked to the Xinyi branch of the popular restaurant chain, Polam Kopitiam, which has since been closed for disinfection.

According to a report by Taipei Times, 35 people have fallen ill after eating at the restaurant from March 18 to March 24, with 3 people being placed in intensive care. The latest person to die from this incident was among those who are in intensive care.

It is believed that the food at the restaurant was contaminated with bongkrek acid.

The most recent victim was a woman in her 40s, who had eaten kuey teow at the restaurant and later developed symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea after returning home.

She had been receiving treatment in intensive care for over a month, but her condition only worsened over time with multiple organ failure and infection. Sadly, her family had to give up on providing her with emergency treatment.

As of now, there are still 2 patients in intensive care, with one of them having to undergo liver transplant surgery.

The owner of the Polam Kopitiam restaurant chain has since issued a public apology, and the police have banned him, the manager of the restaurant branch, and a chef from leaving the country.

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